The loud speaker

no.11 Ryan Jervis

Matt Wedderkopp meets…
that tannoy-ing bloke from Shrewsbury

Background: Remember the last time you went to the Gay Meadow and the man who announced the substitutions and scorers over the tannoy system? Well that voice without a face was Ryan Jervis.

Setting: I met Ryan in his homely-looking office at Lakelands Secondary School where he is the head teacher. There are banners up wishing him a Happy 50th Birthday (he doesn’t look 50) and they cover up a piece of Shrewsbury Town FC batique-style artwork. Are you all sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…

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MW: So, what’s it like to be informer to the scum?
RJ: (Laughs) “It’s the highlight of my week, it really is.”

MW: How long have you been a Shrewsbury supporter?
RJ: “Well, originally I supported Wrexham, when I lived in Ellesmere. My father and I missed very few games in the ‘71/2 season. I then moved to Shrewsbury, and you tend to support the local club.”

MW: Wasn’t it difficult with the rivalry?
RJ: “When you move you take on another club. If I’d moved to Chester I would have supported them.”

MW: Wrexham signed ex-Shrewsbury frontman Ian Stevens last summer. What did you think of him?
RJ: “He was very sharp, a loss to Shrewsbury. He was a quiet lad. When I saw him in the car park after games he would say hello and fly off - he didn’t hang around after the games. He was a natural striker and will be a real coup for Wrexham. He is consistent. With him there was no big fuss. He just got on with it, he was a true professional. I think he played best when he was given a free role. He played well with Steve Anthrobus but he didn’t need service, he created his own opportunities. He was a good finisher, has good awareness and timing. He wasn’t a great team player, there was no huddling after he scored. He was possibly not too popular with the other players. He was his own man, he was undemonstrative. There were no mood swings. He was consistent and a levelheaded pro.”

MW: What about Spink?
RJ: “He was a great loss, a really big loss, he was a real club player. He was a good striker and as time went on he became a good defender. He could play anywhere and would play on whatever was happening in the game. He represented the club, he visited people and opened events. It was a big disappointment when he left - he was a steal. The club had set wage boundaries, something I personally don’t believe in. There are some players that you should extend the boundaries for. Deano was one of these players. For his skills £60,000 was about right but he was worth a lot more as a team player. Team spirit is important, Keegan is a master at raising it - when he was a player he did it as well. I think a belief came about that Stevens was not an inspirational team player. Paul Evans was becoming a real inspirational player before he left.”

MW: How do you think small clubs like Wrexham and Shrewsbury should go about attracting bigger crowds?
RJ: “People should follow local clubs instead of teams like Man United. However success attracts fans, look at Cheltenham. Fans are also expected to pay the top price for low quality football.”

MW: What do you think of Shrewsbury Town getting a new stadium?
RJ: “It’s necessary. The Gay Meadow is full of lovely memories but is run down.”

MW: And it being all seated?
RJ: “It’s not important for a club like Shrewsbury.”

MW: What do you think of the rivalry between the two clubs?
RJ: “It’s a good thing, the fact that Wrexham and Shrewsbury are in different countries adds to the rivalry. It’s the same when Shrewsbury play Walsall. It’s usually lighthearted rivalry but sometimes the minorities spoil it by turning violent. I went to see Gary Bennett’s first game back at Chester after he’d been at Wrexham. They gave him too much stick, they were really abusive and I mean the Chester fans not the opposition fans. So he silenced them by scoring that was the only thing he could do. If Ian Stevens gets any stick he should raise his game.”

MW: Right thanks very much and g-, no I won’t wish you luck for this season and next.
RJ: “My Pleasure.” RP